Pubdate: Wed, 06 Jul 2005
Source: Meridian Booster (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005, The Lloydminster Meridian Booster
Contact:  http://www.meridianbooster.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1590
Author: Erin Pritchard
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

REVIEW TO FOCUS ON ADDICTS REFUSING TREATMENT

The Provincial Government's Growing Concern With Drug Use And Abuse 
Within The Province Is The Focus Of A Review Targeting Addicts 
Unwilling To Take Treatment.

Lloydminster Meridian Booster -- The provincial government's growing 
concern with drug use and abuse within the province is the focus of a 
review targeting addicts unwilling to take treatment.

The review, which will come together in the fall, will be a 
collaboration of many different departments and groups, including 
community resources and employment, health, justice and corrections, 
and public safety. The Children's Advocate, Metis and First Nations 
groups and the Human Rights Commission will also be involved.

"It's all been designed to dovetail together in the fall," said 
Joanne Crofford, minister of community resources and employment. 
"We're also doing a review with all of the service providers to make 
sure, first of all, which kind of services they think are the most 
effective and where the waiting lists are, and also if there are new 
resources allocated, where are the most important places to allocate 
those resources?"

Once each group has completed an individual review, the government 
will look to what model will best benefit those unwilling to accept treatment.

Different methods, such as secure custody or safe houses, all come 
with different price tags. Although the final dollar amount will not 
be set until the final process is complete, Crofford said costs could 
range from about $200 per day, per person for non-secure treatment, 
to $600 for secure custody.

That dollar amount would then be multiplied by the number of days 
decided for a sufficient intervention period, and then by the number 
of youth likely to require that kind of intensive treatment services.

"If you choose a secure custody model your cost quadruples," said Crofford.

"But I think the emphasis is on spending the money most effectively. 
I don't think there's anybody who doesn't think this will be a fairly 
substantial increase in resources."

Whatever the chosen model and delivery philosophy, it will compliment 
the procedures already in place and could set in motion changes for 
the voluntary treatment side of the equation.

Crofford said the government is aware that waiting lists exist 
throughout the province and there will be a lot of prioritization of 
programs and new dollars to produce the best results for the largest 
number of people with serious addictions problems.

"Part of it is working with people who are treatment professionals 
(to determine) whether five days is enough for the 'stabilization 
period' for an assessment of what would happen to that individual 
next," she said. "Whether they will enter into secure custody or 
voluntary treatment, or whether a longer (intervention) period of 30 
days is required."

First Nations and Metis communities have expressed concern for drug 
abuse issues and a desire to be more directly involved in the 
treatment decisions.

"Especially in the north they're concerned with the potential of the 
new roads cutting across from Alberta, and Alberta being a place 
where a lot of the production is occurring, they want to be involved 
in how they can be proactive in making sure this doesn't really take 
a hold in their communities. It hasn't yet, but they're concerned 
about it," said Crofford.

The targeted group is youth unwilling to enter treatment programs and 
are those typically involved in street life, perhaps a gang and in 
conflict with the law. These youth pose unique and difficult care 
challenges for the province and service providers.
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MAP posted-by: Beth